A kitten fell from a mobile home, the tiniest of all, but let nothing stand in her way of becoming a stunning cat.
DooneeseAndreaChristian
Andrea Christian, a volunteer for St Francis Society Animal Rescue, opened her heart and home to three orphaned kittens in urgent need of foster care.
They had fallen from a mobile home as they were being moved, and their mother cat never returned for them. When Andrea received the trio, she immediately noticed one was exceptionally small compared to the others.
She named her Dooneese after the SNL character, famous for her tiny hands. "She was half the size of her siblings and looked a tad off. She was a fighter," Andrea told Love Meow.
Dooneese was about half the size of her sisterAndreaChristian
"I bottle-fed them. They were starving and covered in fleas. It was a blessing they were found." To give the kittens the best chance at thriving, Andrea enlisted the help of another cat already in her care, hoping she could provide the nurturing support they needed.
Earlier that day, Andrea had rescued a friendly mama cat, Amora, along with her surviving kittens, who were the same age as the orphans.
AndreaChristian
Dooneese and her sisters (Janet and Peggy) immediately took to their new mom, but Amora was a bit uncertain about Dooneese, noticing how tiny and fragile she was.
Driven by her instinct to prioritize the survival of the healthier kittens, she was compelled to separate the weakest and tiniest from the litter. "Luckily, Dooneese loved her bottle and was eager to eat."
Mama Amora, her kittens, and adopted babiesAndreaChristian
With a ravenous appetite, Dooneese quickly gained weight and energy. Once she appeared stronger, Amora's worries subsided, and she embraced Dooneese into the fold, caring for her as one of her own.
Dooneese delighted in nursing alongside her siblings just as much as she cherished her bottle-feeding sessions.
She was a great eater from day oneAndreaChristian
She purred and kneaded contentedly on Amora's belly while eagerly waiting for her next bottle. The moment Andrea entered the room, she started meowing and wiggling in anticipation of her feeding.
With Andrea and Amora co-parenting, Dooneese, the tiny fighter, began to thrive.
She began to thriveAndreaChristian
Amora happily let her foster mom weigh her kittens and babysit them whenever she needed a break. The kittens joyfully tumbled around on Andrea's lap, relishing every bonding moment with her.
Dooneese, the tiniest of all, was determined to catch up to her siblings and refused to let her size hold her back or dampen her adventurous spirit.
She was determined to catch up to her siblingsAndreaChristian
She became the first kitten to escape the nest and was always on the lookout for new adventures and a bit of trouble.
"I came out of the shower to find her creeping towards me on the floor. She snuck out between the tespo wall and the vanity. There is no stopping this little tiny girl."
Dooneese was the first to escape her nestAndreaChristian
They celebrated her one-pound milestone and her graduation from the bottle.
"Dooneese was quickly catching up to her biological sister, Peggy. It was then I knew that she was definitely going to be okay. She was such a little fighter from day one and the personality to match."
AndreaChristian
She is a free spirit, always marching to the beat of her own drum. "We often find her off doing her own thing, like playing with a scrap of paper or chasing the sunbeam dust."
AndreaChristian
The little kitten has grown into a stunning young cat with a delightful blend of quirky charm and endearing traits. "From a tiny pill bug to a little princess in the blink of an eye."
She's blossomed into an adorable young catAndreaChristian
Share this story with your friends. More on the feline family and Andrea's fosters on Instagram. Thanks to St Francis Society Animal Rescue @stfrancisrescuetampa.
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